The difference between DO and MD ???

[Dr. Leca]

I know what it stands for but what the hell is the difference?

Is the practice the same? Is there different residencies available for the two?
Does one go to school longer and get paid more?

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[drusso]

There are several really good resources on the Internet to answer this question. You might try using the search engines such as "Google" or "Yahoo" or "AskJeeves." You could also visit the AOA website or the AACOM website, any number pre-med advising web sites. You could even search SDN. Wikipedia has a nice summary so maybe you could start there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathic

 

[cyclohexanol]

I know what it stands for but what the hell is the difference?

Is the practice the same? Is there different residencies available for the two?
Does one go to school longer and get paid more?

The difference is about $65. Seriously, check for yourself: http://history.osteopathic.org/reccalif.shtml.

To answer your specific questions:

1) Practice is what you make of it, if you want it to be the same, then it will be.

2) All residencies are available for both, with the probable exception that MDs would not be able to do a residency in neuromuscular medicine-OMM, but don't quote me on that, I'm not 100% sure. That being said, there are some residencies that are ONLY available to DOs (MDs can't apply for them... which is B.. well... I won't go there, this thread is bound to get gnarly enough as it is) NOTE: A significant number of graduating DOs enter into ACGME (MD) residencies, where they train side-by-side doing the exact same thing.

3) Each go to school for 4 years, then does a variable length residency based on specialty. After that, they go on and make the same field-for-field.

Hope that answers your questions, also check out the stickies at the top of the forum, and the FAQ pages posted by Russo.

 

[24IdaFire]

Do's have to be left handed, if your not a lefty then you can't be a DO. That is the difference.

 

[Ifellinapothole]

Do's have to be left handed, if your not a lefty then you can't be a DO. That is the difference.

I think you can be ambidextrous in Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

And they are now accepting right handed D.O.'s in Alaska.


Hope this helps

 

[DoctorFreckles]

I know what it stands for but what the hell is the difference?

Is the practice the same? Is there different residencies available for the two?
Does one go to school longer and get paid more?

Everything is exactly the same with the exception that DO's get more training in diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal problems in medical school.

Both apply for the same jobs with the same pay. There are some DO only residencies, but they are in all of the same specialties as MDs.

 

[NewNick]

I think you can be ambidextrous in Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

And they are now accepting right handed D.O.'s in Alaska.


Hope this helps

First of all, I suggest to read FAQ in pre-DO forum, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=240220

Another note, they are now accpepting right handed DO's in California as well. That's why I go here.

 

[scpod]

And they are now accepting right handed D.O.'s in Alaska.

But only if you already have your own sled dog...oh, and you have to be gay, too.

 

[Northerner]

There are several really good resources on the Internet to answer this question. You might try using the search engines such as "Google" or "Yahoo" or "AskJeeves." You could also visit the AOA website or the AACOM website, any number pre-med advising web sites. You could even search SDN. Wikipedia has a nice summary so maybe you could start there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathic

I commend your patience.

 

[NewNick]

But only if you already have your own sled dog...oh, and you have to be gay, too.

Dude, I don't like banana.

 

[24IdaFire]

If you don’t like the banana try some sausage.

 

[VPDcurt]

DOs cannot join the American College of Surgeons.

 

[Jamers]

DOs cannot join the American College of Surgeons.

You are like a goddamn rabbit, your comments keep reproducing left and freaking right. Well bunny, go back in the freaking hat.

 

[Jamers]

But only if you already have your own sled dog...oh, and you have to be gay, too.

Nothing like gay eskimos. Talk about Broke Back Mountain, your back would be broken after having sex on that freaking ice.

 

[Dies Irae]

And they are now accepting right handed D.O.'s in Alaska.

Oh lord what is this country coming to?

 

[iheartrain]

There are some DO only residencies, but they are in all of the same specialties as MDs.

While it may be true that DOs can apply to all MD residencies its well known that they are not accepted at the same rates as MDs into many residencies like surgery, derm, etc that are super competitive. So there are not just "DO only" residencies- I would argue that theoretically there are some MD residencies that are so competitive they can fill up the spaces with MDs and thus don't take very many DOs, making a few "MD only" residencies too.

 

[USArmyDoc]

While it may be true that DOs can apply to all MD residencies its well known that they are not accepted at the same rates as MDs into many residencies like surgery, derm, etc that are super competitive. So there are not just "DO only" residencies- I would argue that theoretically there are some MD residencies that are so competitive they can fill up the spaces with MDs and thus don't take very many DOs, making a few "MD only" residencies too.

While I am sure some of it has to do with stigma, I think the majority (almost all) of it has to with the competitive applicants. The more competitive applicants will get the spot. That means there are a lot of MD students not matching into those specialties also. At least for us DO's, we have the DO match which still those specialties are competitive where only the top DO's match.

 

[Mixmaster]

DOs cannot join the American College of Surgeons.

WRONG! You should look that up.

 

[Krazykritter]

Mixmaster is correct...I have already gotten an invitation to join the ACOS due to some conferences I have attended.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Mixmaster is correct...I have already gotten an invitation to join the ACOS due to some conferences I have attended.

Well, that O in the ACOS stands for Osteopatic. ACS is different from ACOS. ACS will only accept members from LCME accredited schools. LCME does not accredit DO schools, thus you can only join ACS if you have an MD from an accredited school. VPDcurt was not wrong.

 

[Mixmaster]

Well, that O in the ACOS stands for Osteopatic. ACS is different from ACOS. ACS will only accept members from LCME accredited schools. LCME does not accredit DO schools, thus you can only join ACS if you have an MD from an accredited school. VPDcurt was not wrong.

Im pretty sure I am right on this one. FACS is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons - these people are trained ACGME. Here is one of the first examples that came up on google
http://asp.cumc.columbia.edu/facdb/profile_list.asp?uni=dd227&DepAffil=Surgery

It's kinda funny seing the D.O.'s in websites that only have Dr. before there name and nothing after, when the rest of the doc's that are MD's have M.D. after there name.

Being a D.O. is really getting to be annoying and I havent even graduated yet.

 

[Mixmaster]

As for what the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.???? I am still trying to figure that one out.

So far to me it is: 1 letter with some added discrimination.

 

[NewNick]

As for what the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.???? I am still trying to figure that one out.

So far to me it is: 1 letter with some added discrimination.

In addition to everything that allopathic students learn, we learn OMM. That can be pro or con depending on each individual. You will take different board exams, COMLEX. However, you can take USMLE if you want. You have your own residency match system, but you can try allopathic residency if you want. You will have no problem if you become a primary care doctor. It would be a little harder for a DO to specialize. But it's not impossible. It's doable.

 

[Northerner]

In addition to everything that allopathic students learn, we learn OMM. That can be pro or con depending on each individual. You will take different board exams, COMLEX. However, you can take USMLE if you want. You have your own residency match system, but you can try allopathic residency if you want. You will have no problem if you become a primary care doctor. It would be a little harder for a DO to specialize. But it's not impossible. It's doable.

Well, in addition to what D.O. students learn, we M.D. students learn how to have less patient skills and a less holistic approach. We also get extra training into how NOT to look at the "whole body" perspective with treatment, and how to have inferior bedside manner. So I guess we're even.

 

[natsayshi]

Here it is in a nutshell to end all debates and threads on M.D vs. D.O.

All Osteopathic colleges are actually Holliday Inn Expresses. Because of our schooling, we can only practice medicine in television series. Thus giving us our aphorism, “I’m not a doctor in real life, I just play one on T.V.” This does cause a lot of resentment with our Allopathic counterparts, as we tend to make more money than the M.D.’s from our syndication royalties alone.

KCOM Class of 2010
Or,
HIECOM (Holliday Inn Express College of Osteopathic Medicine) Kirksville

 

[the lag]

I know what it stands for but what the hell is the difference?

Is the practice the same? Is there different residencies available for the two?
Does one go to school longer and get paid more?

MD = real doctor
DO = pill-prescribing chiropractor

 

[NewNick]

Well, in addition to what D.O. students learn, we M.D. students learn how to have less patient skills and a less holistic approach. We also get extra training into how NOT to look at the "whole body" perspective with treatment, and how to have inferior bedside manner. So I guess we're even.

hahhahah, when I wrote that, I had a feeling that someone would pick on me and think that I try to prove DO is better than MD. Let me clarify again. I don't think an MD school will be better than DO one or vice versa in term of primary care. If you want to specialize, MD school open more opportunity. Be aware that being in an MD school doesn't mean that you're guaranteed to be a specialist someday. It's still true that DO schools teach OMM besides other subjects such as Anatomy, BioChem, Histology, NeuroSci, etc. This technique was developed base on the principle of "holistic approach". This principle or philosophy doesn't prove that a DO is a better doctor. It just proves that there are many ways to approach to the diseases. The topic is pointing out the differences between MD and DO. I already did in the previous post. Before I stop, I'd like to share with you a statement and hopefully you will enjoy it.

“In the practice of medicine, the person you are is as important as what you know.”
Katharine Treadway, MD

Please remember that I have no intention to against MD schools. I think many MD schools are really great in term of education.

 

[homeboy]

Well, that O in the ACOS stands for Osteopatic. ACS is different from ACOS. ACS will only accept members from LCME accredited schools. LCME does not accredit DO schools, thus you can only join ACS if you have an MD from an accredited school. VPDcurt was not wrong.

Actually, if a DO goes to an ACGME accredited surgery residency, he will be ACS boarded. You can't get boarded through the ACOS if you don't do an AOA residency.
Interestingly, our Dean is both ACS and ACOS.

 

[siinew]

Well, in addition to what D.O. students learn, we M.D. students learn how to have less patient skills and a less holistic approach. We also get extra training into how NOT to look at the "whole body" perspective with treatment, and how to have inferior bedside manner. So I guess we're even.

LMAO. That was actually really funny, Northerner. Thanks for giving me a good laugh this morning.

I've been interviewing at both DO and MD schools, and will likely have to make that decision myself. It's a tough one, because I really want OMM. On the other hand, I don't want to have to explain to folks who are undereducated in our health care education system, after busting my ass for 4 years + residency, what exactly a DO is. The whole thing is so ridiculous. If OMM works, MD's should be using it, and if I end up being an MD, I will be pursuing it as a possible modality, for sure.

 

[Hardbody]

I know what it stands for but what the hell is the difference?

Is the practice the same? Is there different residencies available for the two?
Does one go to school longer and get paid more?

If I had a five dollar bill for every time someone brought this topic up on SDN, I would be hangin with Warren Buffet. Do a search.